Chronic Disease + Chronic Pain Management
Chronic Disease Managment
Managing a long-term health condition requires a partnership between you and your healthcare team. Your GP will help you understand how to prevent symptoms from worsening and what to do when they occur.
- Asthma
- Diabetes
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- Heart Failure
- Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease
- Osteoarthritis
- Thyroid problems
- Osteoporosis
Your GP has specialised training in managing these conditions individually and together. This comprehensive approach helps prevent hospital admissions and improves your long-term health outcomes. Book an appointment with you GP today.
We encourage patients with chronic diseases to develop an annual health plan with our doctors. This focused approach helps:
- Prevent sudden deterioration of your condition
- Reduce hospital admissions
- Keep you healthier for longer
If you over the age of 75+ you can arrange to have a 75+ health check with our nurse and your doctor.
Home Medication Reviews
Specially trained pharmacists can visit you at home to review all your medications. They work directly with you and your GP to:
- Reduce side effects and drug interactions
- Provide medication education
- Often reduce the number of daily medications
- Answer complex treatment questions
You may benefit from a Home Medication Review if you:
- Take multiple medications
- Use opioid medications
- Were recently discharged from hospital
- Had frequent medication changes (past 3 months)
- Take medications requiring regular monitoring
- Experience symptoms that may be medication-related
If you have any questions about Home Medication Review please speak with your GP today.
Chronic Pain Management
Chronic pain is any pain that persists for more than three months. Unlike acute pain, which serves as a warning signal, chronic pain can significantly impact your daily life, relationships, mood, and energy levels.
Remember: Chronic pain is complex, but with the right approach combining movement, mental health support, and appropriate medical care, significant improvement is possible.
Neuropathic Pain: Caused by nerve disease or damage, often described as shooting, burning, or tingling sensations.
Nociceptive Pain: Results from actual or threatened tissue damage, typically felt as sharp, throbbing, or aching pain in a specific area.
Nociplastic Pain: Pain that occurs without evidence of tissue damage, nerve damage, or pain receptor activation.
Pain is a learned response influenced by biological, psychological, and social factors. Our nervous system is closely connected to our brain, which explains why:
- Emotional stress can worsen physical pain
- Past experiences, including trauma, can affect how we process pain
- Anxiety and depression can intensify pain sensations
Life experiences such as childhood trauma, domestic violence, or accidents don’t cause chronic pain, but they can make your brain more reactive to perceived threats, amplifying pain signals.
Movement and Exercise
Staying active within your limits is crucial for chronic pain management. Regular movement:
- Prevents muscle weakness that can worsen pain
- Helps desensitize problem areas
- Improves overall function and wellbeing
Recommended activities include:
- Hydrotherapy (warm water exercise)
- Gentle yoga with breathing exercises
- Paced walking or swimming
- Physiotherapy-guided exercises
Treatment may involve addressing underlying conditions that contribute to your pain. Medication options can include antidepressants, which are effective for certain pain conditions. However, some pain medications can actually increase pain over time, which is why we combine medical treatment with movement and psychological strategies.
Non-Medication Options
- TENS machines
- Meditation and relaxation techniques
- Gentle exercise programs
- Psychological support and counseling
Important: Medication alone is not a complete solution. The best long-term outcomes come from addressing pain through movement, mental health support, and medical management together.
Books
- “Explain Pain” by David Butler and G Moseley – An accessible guide to how thoughts, beliefs, and context influence pain
- “The Body Keeps the Score” by Bessel van der Kolk – Explores how trauma affects the body and can contribute to chronic pain
Online Resources
- Hunter New England Pain Service – Comprehensive pain management information
- Reach For The Facts – Evidence-based opioid information
- Brainman Chooses (YouTube) – Evidence-based pain education videos
Getting Help for Your Chronic Pain
Your First Appointment
You can book directly with Dr. Lim, though a GP referral provides a higher Medicare rebate and gives Dr. Lim important background information about your previous treatments.
Your 60 minute initial consultation takes a whole-person approach, covering:
- Your pain history and current symptoms
- Impact on daily activities
- Mental health and wellbeing
- Childhood experiences and trauma history
- Previous treatments attempted